AEW president reveals New York debut plans were scrapped before 2019 launch
Summary
– Tony Khan said AEW Dynamite was originally set to debut at Madison Square Garden
– The venue allegedly withdrew the offer months later due to outside pressure
– AEW instead launched Dynamite from Washington, D.C. in 2019
Tony Khan shared a notable behind-the-scenes story while addressing fans in New York during AEW Dynamite at the Hammerstein Ballroom on December 20. Khan revealed that the very first episode of Dynamite in 2019 was initially scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden.
According to Khan, officials from Madison Square Garden personally contacted him more than six years ago and offered the date for AEW’s television debut. He said he immediately accepted the opportunity, viewing it as a landmark moment for the company.
Months later, Khan received another call from the same representatives informing him that the offer had been withdrawn. He suggested the decision was made to avoid upsetting another party, though he stopped short of naming anyone directly.
The live crowd quickly filled in the blanks with chants aimed at WWE, long associated with Madison Square Garden. Khan compared the experience to having the rug pulled out from under him, referencing the Charlie Brown and Lucy football analogy.
AEW ultimately launched Dynamite from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The revelation highlights that much larger plans were once in motion and suggests backstage politics may have played a role in changing AEW’s original debut vision.
